Chapter 133 The Beginning of Li Hongzhang’s Administration
The empress dowagers of the two palaces repeatedly heard the good news, and felt very happy. They happily told Zeng Guofan: Qingyang County has been recovered, and now the five cities of Shidai, Taiping, Jingxian, Fanchang and Nanling have been conquered. The defense of Huijun North Road can be slightly relaxed, and both Attack Ningguo in the south and return to Wuhu and Taiping in the east. It is urgent to take advantage of this prestige to sweep away the enemy in one go. Then he ordered Bao Chao and other troops to quickly capture the city of Ningguo and advance towards Guangde. Afterwards, all armies on land and water were united, and Wuhu was first recovered, and then Taiping was captured. In order to attack Jinling, the key pass in West Liang Mountain was captured by the officers and soldiers on the north bank, and a key pass in East Liang Mountain was also an important pass on the south bank. Troops were sent to take advantage of the situation to conquer the Shushui River. The division can go east along the river and reach Jinling from the Wutai River.
Zeng Guofan received the order and urgently ordered Zeng Guoquan's troops to immediately cross south to join Peng Yulin's navy to capture Jinzhu Pass.
After the order of the vassal state was completed, he was afraid that Peng Yulin and Zeng Guoquan would be absent-minded and miss the opportunity to fight, so he asked Peng Zeng again: occupy Jinzhu Pass, firstly, to cut off the air from Jinling and Wuhu; secondly, the navy can open up the grain road between Jingxian and Ningguo; thirdly, Said that the Wu bandits were surrounded on all sides; on the fourth day, they carried the boat across the East Dam to reach Suzhou.
Zhao Liewen, an aide, said: "Yuanfu is a natural general, and he also knows the importance of Jinzhu Pass, so there is no need to rush him."
Zeng Guofan said: "It would be a pleasure to seize this pass quickly before the reinforcements from Jinling arrive, and then defend it with danger." Zuo Zongtang came to consult and said that Yang Nifu seemed to intend to divide his troops into Zhejiang. The left side was surrounded by enemies on both sides, so they had no choice but to attack Quzhou and wait for Jiang Yili and Liu Peiyuan's troops to arrive before attacking again.
Ouyang Zhaoxiong, a staff member, said: Li Hongzhang came to consult and said that Shanghai is fertile, and both the officials and the people despised the ragged Huai army.
Zhao Liewen laughed and said: I am like the people of Shanghai, and I will also laugh at it.
Ouyang Zhaoxiong said: Li Shaoquan is unparalleled in talent and worthy of a great responsibility; people in Shanghai judge people by their appearance, which is deplorable and hateful.
Zeng Guofan said: Although Shaoquan shared difficulties, he had profound knowledge, never wavered in his opinions, and made decisive decisions. I have gone to the two palaces and sent Xue Huan to guard Shanghai. However, the teacher is exhausted and has failed, so I asked Shaoquan to act as governor of Jiangsu. I don't know what the purpose of the two palaces is?
Zhao Liewen said: "Li Shaoquan has just arrived in Shanghai, but he has not made any progress. It is difficult to predict whether he will succeed in seal writing."
The empress dowagers of the two palaces received Zeng Guofan's report and asked Li Hongzhang to handle the matter, and urgently summoned the ministers to discuss the matter.
Wenxiang, the Minister of Military Aircraft and the Censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, said: Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu, guarded Shanghai for two years. Hundreds of people, large and small, fought, but the thieves were unable to attack the city. It was mainly due to the interception power of Xue Huan and his generals. Recently, Wangjia Temple and Longzhu Temple were defeated again, and the siege of Songjiang was completely relieved. If the generals are changed on the spot, the morale of the army will fluctuate, and if there are slight setbacks, Shanghai will become even more turbulent.
Prince Gong Yixin also added, saying: Xue Huan reported that there was talk of borrowing troops from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to help in the suppression, so he said that the foreigners could be relied on. I don’t know whether the foreigners’ direction will depend on my strength or weakness. If the troops are not strong, then Being despised by him, there are those who want to use his strength but cannot. Even though there are no generals who are brave enough to lead the troops, they can only be rewarded and always show warning; they should work hard to strengthen themselves and hope that foreign soldiers can help. Hualben, Wu Xu and others hired soldiers to teach them how to be brave. If they become a strong force and can be dispatched by me, it wouldn't be a bad idea! Since the five victories in five battles, there has been a hint of unrestraint; and in every battle, he must ask for a heavy reward, and the creek has not been easy to fill. Wu Xu and others still think that the Great Wall can be relied on; they secretly say that those who control foreign countries should be controlled by me, and I can only control them silently to reduce their unruly spirit, so that the common people can use them without being harmed.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Xue Huan's words are very insightful."
Empress Dowager Cixi said: "However, Zeng Guofan reported that Xue Huan was stationed in Shanghai and was spending more than 200,000 yuan every month. He could not deal with thieves all the way." Of the places in Jiangsu, Zhenjiang and Yangzhou are the only ones that have the upper hand. Last year, the memorial requested that Guang Yong be banned, but most of his trusted subordinates, including Zeng Bingzhong and Feng Rikun, were Guang Yong. Zeng Bingzhong bravely plundered foreign ships, and Feng Rikunzhi bravely surrounded and killed the gentry group in Jinshan. Since the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union have often fallen, the people have gathered in Shanghai, and people are busy with things. Whenever there is a commission, the rate is determined by the camp; or when there is no commission, the position is contrived. As Shanghai prospered, Suzhou's books, calligraphy and paintings were sold among thieves, and Xue Huan set up a calligraphy and painting bureau to purchase famous works. It is rumored that in the ninth year of Xue Huan's trip from Zhensi to Beijing, there was a case of missing silver. In Beijing, there is a feeling of giving gifts. Xue Huan secretly settled in a corner, and things flourished. In the wealthy area of Jiangsu Province, the atmosphere of thieves is raging; I am afraid that I will not be able to handle this important task. If Zeng Chen's report is true, then Xue Huan and others are stationed in Shanghai, unable to do anything; the officials are running around and entertaining antiques. Is this what Xianqi did?
Yi Xin said: "I would like to report to the Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother. I believe that the gains and losses in Shanghai are related to the overall situation of Jiangnan's revival. We must thoroughly investigate Xue and other generals. If there is any pretentious and pretentious behavior, they will be handed over to the Ministry for severe punishment immediately." .
Empress Dowager Cixi said: I mean, Li Hongzhang will act as governor of Jiangsu. Xue Huan was successful in fighting against the thieves, and he served as Minister of Commerce with his first rank, and he had full authority to handle the trade affairs of Belgium. Jiangsu Province has been occupied for a long time, and only Shanghai and a corner of Jiangbei remain. If Feng Rikun and others really neglect their duties and send troops to help thieves, Shanghai's military affairs will never improve. That is to say, Zeng Chenguofan secretly consulted the governor of the department and asked him to pay attention to the investigation. If Feng Rikun and others acted rashly, the minister would immediately pass on the decree and rectify the law, and report the news at the same time.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: This work is a link between the past and the past, and it is innovative while eliminating differences. It is very promising. Since then, Li Hongzhang's army, Xue Huan's army, Huaer's ever-victorious army, and the British and French forces have joined forces to attack, and the chance of victory is certain.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Li Xiucheng came in person against his will, so the war in Shanghai will inevitably repeat itself." I would like to tell Xue Huan, Li Hongzhang, etc., not to worry unreasonably, not to sit back and relax; only by being cautious and fearless in the face of battle can you gain success.
In early April 1862, Li Hongzhang arrived in Shanghai with the 13th Battalion of Huai soldiers. Wearing mango shoes, short clothes and cloth handkerchief, they stood alone. Everyone laughed and called them beggars.
Hongzhang did not think so, and quickly summoned the generals and said: Since April, Xue Huan's green camp, Hua'er's foreign soldiers, and the British and French allied forces have defeated Wangjiasi and Longzhu Temple in the west of Shanghai, and Zhoupu in Pudong. Therefore, they are satisfied with their goals and have no self-interest; The army is noble and capable of fighting. Wait for me to defeat the enemy and frighten him.
Generals Cheng Xueqi and Guo Songlin asked for battle.
Li Hongzhang refused and said: "For the first time here, training and learning how to fight is the foundation of life." Xue Huan, Hua Er, He Bo, Shi Difu Li and others are jointly attacking Jiading. We might as well stand aside and watch the battle. I am sending an order to my general, our troops stationed in Zhoupu, hold the fort and guard the camp, and do not leave lightly.
On April 27, more than 4,000 people from the British and French coalition forces and Wall's Ever-Victorious Army stormed the Taiping Army barracks in Nanxiang and Hesheshan outside Jiading; Qing army deputy general Xiong Zhaozhou led 3,000 troops to coordinate operations. Li Hengsong's cavalry and Zeng Bingzhong's navy advanced towards Qingpu; participating generals Lin Congwen and Jiang De attacked Huangdu and Luodian respectively as a containment.
The Chinese and foreign coalition forces fought fiercely for three days and broke through the Nanxiang defense line of the Taiping Army. On May 1, the coalition forces assembled more than 30 heavy artillery pieces and bombarded the city walls of Jiading. The Taiping Army suffered more than a thousand casualties and, unable to support itself, abandoned the city.
On May 11, the Chinese and foreign coalition forces attacked Qingpu County again. 30 field artillery pieces were fired simultaneously, knocking down the city wall and breaking into the city.
The Taiping Army fought in the streets for a day and lost more than half of their troops, so they broke through and retreated.
On May 15, the prefect Li Qingchen led 5,000 troops and 500 British and French troops to besiege Taicang.
Jiading and Qingpu were both lost, and Taicang was in danger. Li Xiucheng was heartbroken and quickly dispatched troops and generals from various places to reinforce Taicang.
On May 17, 1862, Li Xiucheng personally led 10,000 elite troops and gathered more than 100,000 reinforcements from various places to surround the Qing and foreign troops besieging Taicang. In one day of fierce fighting, more than 5,000 people including the Qing army general Li Qingchen, deputy generals Wang Guoan, Liang Anbang and Zhou Shiqian were killed.
Xue Huan was in great mourning and rushed to Huaiying. He called Li Hongzhang and said: "Since the Duke has appointed governor, please send troops quickly to protect Shanghai."
Li Hongzhang said: "I was ordered to protect the city, but that's it!"
However, after Xue Huan left, Hongzhang said to the generals: If any of the troops in our camp threatens to fight within one month, they will be killed! After watching the battle for several days, there were thousands of foreign soldiers, guns and artillery fired at the same time, and when they were ready, bombs exploded when they landed, which was a truly magical skill. As for the long-barreled muskets, cannons and small guns of our camp, there is no difference in weight or size. Can we defeat the enemy with this method? Immediately pass on my order, and each battalion will quickly dispatch special personnel, raise more funds, and purchase foreign guns and cannons to strengthen our army.
After Hongzhang's order was completed, he consulted Zeng Guofan again: Hongzhang arrived in Shanghai, built a camp and dredged the Hao River, and the soldiers were brave and did not smoke, harassed and looted. They all said that the commander-in-chief's military appearance had never been seen since the Soviet Union used troops. Hongzhang followed this approach and worked steadily, planning to engrave the camp regulations and distribute them to the Shanghai army. Carve out words of advice and give them to subordinate officials. Reprints of love folk songs and disbandment songs were posted all over the city and countryside to inform soldiers and civilians as well as common people among thieves. This is the Bucai New Deal. Those who can become disciples of Buddhism and practice Buddhism will be very lucky to be famous. In addition, if Guo Yunxian had nothing to do, he sincerely asked his mentor to send him to Shanghai to manage the business affairs of the grain station. Hongzhang thanked him.
